Electromagnetic valve-controlling system.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

I. G. WATERMAN. ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 gal/L 8 ISAAC G. WATERMAN, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE-CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed August 18, 1903. Serial NO, 169,893,

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo G. WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara,county of Santa Barbara, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Valve- Controlling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electromagnetic valve-controlling systems.

In my patents dated November 15, 1904, Nos. 775,018 and 775,020, I disclose an electromagnetic valve controlling system for bath-tubs, lavatories, and other places embracing electrically-controlled supply-valves, an electrically-controlled waste-valve, manually-operated temporary-contact switches having' electrically-operated mechanism to automatically throw the switches, and an automatic electrically-operated mechanism which causes closing of the supply-wives when a float rises to a predetermined height.

The present invention is designed as an improvement on the systems disclosed in my said patents mainly in dispensing with the floattank and providing an improved and novel contact device and means whereby the height of the fluid in the bath-tub at which the contact will act to close the fluid-supply valves can be regulated at will to suit the user and to provide a novel electromagnetically-operated switching device which will break the circuit of the contact after the supply valve or valves have been closed and which will be electrically restored when the supply valve or valves have been opened again by the use of the switch or switches.

The invention is set forth fully hereinafter, and the novel features are recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the complete system; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the automatic circuit breaker and restorer; Fig. 3, a crosssection on line 11: m of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5, details of the automatic contact; and Fig. 6, a detail of the device for regulating the height of water at which the contact will act.

1 designates the water-receptacle, such as a bowl or bath-tub, which has the hot and cold water supply pipes controlled by the electromagnetic valves 2 and 3, each comprising a rotary plug-valve 4, whose stem 5 has a pin 6, received in the cam-slot of a non-rotatable armature 7, movable in the valve-opening coil or solenoid 8 and the valve-closing coil or solenoid 9. These electromagnetic valves are set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 163,128.

The numerals 10 and 11 designate switches for operating the valves. These switches are similar in principle to the switches set forth in my Patents Nos. 775,016, 775,053,and 775,055, dated November 15, 1904, and have the four contacts or switch-points 12, 13, 14, and 15, rotary tumbler 16, having contact projections 17 and 18, and a ratchet-wheel19, operated by the engagement of a pawl 20, movable with a push-button 21, retracted by a spring 22.

From the generator 23 a wire 24 runs to contacts 12 and 15. From contacts 13 circuits 25 25' run to the respective coils 9, thence by return-feeder 26 to the generator 23. From contacts 14 circuits 27 run to the respective coils 8, thence by return-wire 29 to the valveclosing coil 28 of a waste-valve 30, thence to return-wire 26.

The numeral 31 represents the valve-opening coil of the waste-valve, which is in circuit with the return-wire 26 and by Wire 37 with the contacts of a temporary-contact switch 11, similar to switches 11 and 12 and having the contacts 38 in circuit with wire 24. This switch has a tumbler 36.

The waste-valve 30 has a stem on which is an armature 32, which is locked with the valve either open or closed by the shoulder 33 and members 34. This waste-valve is set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 163,129. On energizing coil 31 by operating switch 11 the armature is attracted in said coil and the waste-valve opened and locked. hen either supply-valve is opened, the current energizes coil 28, which attracts the armature and closes the valve.

In conjunction with theswitches 10 and 11 I provide an armature 39, adapted to engage and turn the switch-tumbler, and a magnet solenoid or coil 40 for attracting said armature.

Leading from the bottom of the bath-tub 1 is a standpipe 41, which extends upwardly and is provided at its upper end with a packed nut or collar 42.

The numeral 43 designates a waste-pipe which may connect with the usual waste-pipe controlled by valve 30, said pipe 43 having at its upper end a packed nut or collar 44, similar to nut 42.

The numeral 45 designates an inverted-U- shaped pipe which telescopes into the pipes 41 and 43, so as to be adjustable up and down in them to the desired height, said pipe having a handhold 46, by which it can conveniently be raised and lowered. The pipe 45 will, according to the height of its bend, let the water in bath-tub 1 How through said bend into pipe 43, thus by its position determining the level at which the water in the bath-tub will overflow.

Positioned on either pipe 45 or pipe 43, preterably the latter, is a boX 47, in which is an insulating-block 48, to which are secured terminal contacts 49 and 50, the former being connected to feeder 24 by circuit 51 and the latter being connected by branch 52 to the coils 40. This terminal 50 is in a circuit 53 which includes a circuit-breaking solenoid 54 of an improved electromagnetic circuit breaker and restorer 55. The circuit 53 includes separated contacts 56 and 57 and thence leads to the return-feeder 26. The branch 58 connects coils 40 to circuit 53.

The device 55 has two restoring coils or solenoids 59 and 59, solenoid 59 being included in a circuit 27 of switch 10 and solenoid 59 being included in circuit 27 of switch 11.

Movable in the solenoids 54, 59, and 59', which are in alinement, is an armature 62, having an insulated portion 63, on which metallic collar or ring 64 engages contacts 56 and 57 when the armature is drawn into restoringcoils 59 and 59and disengag'es from said contacts when the armature is attracted into coil 54. lVhen being drawn into coil 54, collar 64 first engages and then passes contacts 71 and 72, forming terminals of branches 60 and 61, connected, respectively, to the circuits 25 and 25 of the switches 10 and 11, and also to engage a contact 73, constituting a live terminal of abranch 7 leading to circuit 51. When the armature 62 is drawn into the coils 59 and 59 and the collar 64 bridges the contacts 56 and 57, the said collar is out of engagement with contacts 71, 72, and 7 3; but when the armature is drawn into coil or solenoid 54 after breaking engagement with contacts 56 and 57 the collar 64 first engages contacts 71, 72, and 73 and then passes them.

The automatic circuit breaker and restorer is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and in connection wit-h Fig. 1, the numeral 65 represents a gate located within pipe 43 and having a trunnion or pivot 66 hinging it to the pipe, said trunnion working in a packing or gland 67 and carrying an arm 68, havinga contact 69 adapted to bridge the contacts 49 and 50 when the water descending in pipes 45 and 43 strikes the gate 65 and swings it downwardly on its pivot.

Assuming the parts and devices to be in the positions shown and cold water is desired, the button 21 of switch is pushed in and released. The pawl rides on the ratchetwheel 19 and on the return of the push-button engages said wheel and snaps the tumbler to the position indicated by dotted lines, meanwhile causing the contact projections 17 and 18 to momentarily engage the contacts 12 and 14, thus sending a temporary current through coil 8 of valve 2, thus attracting armature 7 and turning plug-valve 4 to open position, where it will remain. The current also traverses coil 28, which attracts armature 32 and closes waste-valve 30. The water will continue to flow into bath-tub 1 until the push button of switch 10 is again operated and contacts 13 and 15 temporarily bridged by the tumbler, whereupon a temporary current will flow through coil 9, which will retract the armature and turn the valve to closed position, cutting off the flow of water.

The action of the valve 3 and the wastevalve is the same as that described when the switch 11 is manipulated to supply hot water to bath-tub 1. \Vhen switch 10 opens its valve, a current traverses solenoid 59, and when switch 11 opens its valve a current traverses solenoid 59, so that if armature 62 has been previously drawn into solenoid 54 the armature will be drawn into solenoids 59 and 59 and circuit 53 completed at the contacts 56 and 57.

The water will remain in the bath-tub 1 until the switch 11 is operated to bridge contacts and 38 and send a temporary current through coil 31, which will attract armature 32 and open valve 30,which will then be locked in open position by the lockingmechanism ol. said valve.

When the water in bath-tub 1 reaches the level predetermined by the height to which the pipe has been adjusted, the water passes over the bend and into the outer leg of said pipe and depresses the gate 65. thus swinging contact 69 into engagement with contacts 49 and 50. A current then traverses coil 54, contacts 56 and 57, and circuit The coils 40 are also energized and the switch-tumblers 16 snapped past contacts 13 and 15, thereby sending current through valve-closing coils 9, causing closing of the valves and also positioning the tumblers for engagement with contacts 12 and 14, when the switches are operated by hand at any time afterward. The solenoid 54 is wound with finer wire than the other solenoid, and hence it does not attract the armature 62 and break circuit 53 at contacts 56 and 57 until switches have been snapped to close the valves.

To absolutely insure closing of the valves because of the quick action of the switches, I provide the contacts 71, 72, and 73 and circuits 60, 61, and 70, so that the valve-closing coils are further momentarily energized immediately after the circuit 53 has been broken and as the armature is being drawn into the coil 54.

The object of employing the solenoid 54 is to break the circuit in which contacts 49 and are included in order to prevent any sparking at said contacts 49 and 50 occasioned by tutu re movements of the gate from splash- TOE ing of water through pipe 45 after the bathtub 1 has been filled and the supply once automatically cut off.

When the valves are opened by the switches, the energization of solenoid 59 or solenoid 59' restores the armature to the position shown in Fig. 1 and completes circuit 53 at the contacts 56 and 57.

It will be understood that for the supply and waste valves any of the electromagnetic valves set forth in a series of applications previously filed by me can be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a receptacle, of an electrically-operated supply-valve for said receptacle, means for electrically operating said supply-valve, independent means actuated by the fluid when at a predetermined height in the receptacle having circuit connections to the supply-valve to effect closing thereof. and an electrical contact device automatically actuated upon the operation of said supply-valve, controlling said circuit connections from the fluid-operated means and openingsaid circuit connections after closing of the supply-valve.

2. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a receptacle, of independent electrically-operated valves controlling the flow of separate fluids to the receptacle, means for electrically operating said supply-valves, an electrical contact device actuated when the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined position and having circuit connections with the supply-valves aforesaid to effect closing thereof, and independent electrical contact devices automatically operated upon the opening of the respective supply-valves, controlling said circuit connections from the fluid-operated contact devices and opening said circuit connections if not previously opened.

3. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of means for taking off the fluid at any desired level, an electromagnetic valve controlling the supply of fluid to the receptacle, and an electrical contact controlling the electromagnetic valve, said electrical contact being operated by the overflow of the fluid at whatever level the fluid be taken oil and adapted to thereupon operate the electromagnetic valve.

4. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an adjustable pipe for taking off the fluid from said receptacle at a desired level, an electromagnetic valve controlling the supply of fluid to the receptacle, and an electrical contact controlling the electromagnetic valve, said electrical contact being operated by the overflow of the water into the pipe at whatever level the fluid be taken off and adapted to thereupon operate the electro magnetic valve.

5. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the supply to the receptacle, means for electrically operating the valve, an electrical contact operated when the fluid inthe receptacle reaches a predetermined position, circuit connections from the contact to the valve whereby the valve is closed, electrically-operated means for breaking the circuit of the fluid-operated contact, and electrically-operated means for restoring the circuit of the contact.

6. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electricallyoperated supplyvalve controlling the flow to said receptacle, an electrical contact device operated when the fluid inTthe receptacle reaches a predetermined position, circuit connections for closing the electrically-operated. valve by the electrical contact, an electric switch for controlling the supply-valve, electrically-operated means for breaking the circuit of the fluid-operated contact, and electrically-operated means for restoring said circuit on the operation 01'' the switch.

7. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the fluid-supply to said receptacle, a switch controlling the valve, contact mechanism operated when the fluid in the receptacle assumes a predetermined position adapted to cause operation of the electrically-operated valve, mechanism for opening the circuit of the contact mechanism after said circuit has been made, and mechanism for restoring the circuit of the contact mechanism which is controlled by the operation of the switch.

8. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluidrecep tacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the fluid-supply to said receptacle, a switch controlling the valve, mechanism for electrically operating the switch, contact mechanism, operated when the fluid in the receptacle assumes a predetermined position, adapted to cause operation of the electrically-operated valve, mechanism for opening the circuit of the contact mechanism after said circuit has been made, and electricallyoperated mechanism for restoring the circuit of the contact mechanism.

9. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the fluid-supply to said receptacle, a switch controlling the valve, mechanism for electrically operating the switch, contact mechanism operated when the fluid in the receptacle assumes a predetermined position adapted to cause operation of the electric ally-operated valve, mechanism for opening the circuit of the contact mechanism after said circuit has been made, and mechanism for restoring the circuit of the contact mechanism which is controlled by the operation of the switch.

10. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the fluid-supply to said receptacle,a switch controlling the valve, mechanism for electrically operating the switch, contact mechanism, operated when the fluid in the receptacle assumes a predetermined position, adapted to cause operation of the electrically-operated valve, mechanism for opening the circuit of the contact mechanism after said circuit has been made, and electricallyoperated mechanism for restoring the circuit of the contact mechanism which is controlled by the operation of the switch.

11.. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve for said receptacle, a switch controlling the valve, contact mechanism, operated when the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined position, adapted to cause operation of the electrically} operated valve, electrically-operated mechanism for opening the ceases circuit of the contact-mechanism after said circuit has been made, and electrically-operated mechanism for restoring the circuit of the contact mechanism which is controlled. by the operation of the switch.

12. In an electromagnetic valve-controlling system, the combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve con trolling the fluid-supply to said receptacle, a switch controlling the valve, mechanism for electrically operating the switch, contact mechanism, operated when the fluid in the receptacle assumes a predetermined position, adapted to cause operation of the electrically-op erated valve, independent electromagnets, an armature controlled thereby, and contacts in the circuit of the fluid-operated contact mechanism which are opened and closed by the movements of said armature, one of said electromagnets being energized to cause the armature to open the contacts after said circuit has been made by the fluidoperated contact mechanism, and the other electromagnet being operated by the switch to restore said circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afl'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC G. IVATERM AN.

Witnesses ELMER SEAVEY, VVALLAOE R. SEAVEY. 

